Dubai Metro timings run from 5:00 AM to midnight on most days, according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Friday is the longest service day, with stations open until 1:00 AM, and Sunday starts later at 8:00 AM.
This guide lists the official opening hours for every day, explains what they mean for your last train, and covers Dubai Tram hours, holiday timetables and the nol card you need to ride.
Dubai Metro Timings by Day: Opening Hours for All Stations
Dubai Metro stations open at 5:00 AM and close at midnight from Monday to Thursday and on Saturday, while Friday closes at 1:00 AM and Sunday opens at 8:00 AM. The same station opening hours apply to the Red Line and the Green Line.
Day
Station opening hours
Monday to Thursday
5:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight)
Friday
5:00 AM to 1:00 AM (next day)
Saturday
5:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight)
Sunday
8:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight)
The RTA timetable page lists Metro station opening hours for every day of the week. Source: rta.ae
These are station opening hours, not train departure times. A train leaves each station at regular intervals while the station is open, so plan to be on the platform before the closing time, not at it.
Which Metro Lines and Stations Do These Timings Cover?
The timings cover the whole Dubai Metro network, which has two lines: the Red Line and the Green Line. RTA describes the journeys as follows.
Line
Runs between
Red Line
Centrepoint (R11) and Expo 2020 (R76) or Life Pharmacy (R42)
Green Line
e& (G11) and Creek (G30)
Riders change between the two lines at two interchange stations, and one more pair of stations connects the Metro to the tram.
Union (R18/G20) and BurJuman (R19/G26) link the Red Line and the Green Line.
SOBHA REALITY (R36) and DMCC (R37) link the Metro and the Dubai Tram.
For every station name, zone and new line, see the Dubai Metro map guide before you plan a longer trip.
What Time Does the Last Dubai Metro Leave?
The last Dubai Metro train leaves before the closing time shown for the station, so riders should be at the gate well ahead of midnight, or ahead of 1:00 AM on Friday. The exact last train time depends on the station and the direction of travel.
RTA publishes the detailed Metro and Tram timings by station in an official PDF. Open the RTA Metro and Tram detailed timings file to check the first and last train at your own station.
Check the station where you board, not only the station where you get off.
Allow extra time if your trip needs a change at Union or BurJuman.
Late night trips with a tram connection need a check on both timetables.
Dubai Metro Timing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Friday has the latest closing time of the week, while Sunday has the latest opening time. The weekend pattern is different from the weekday pattern, so a trip that works on Tuesday may not work on Sunday morning.
Friday: stations open at 5:00 AM and stay open until 1:00 AM the next day.
Saturday: stations follow the weekday pattern, 5:00 AM to midnight.
Sunday: stations open at 8:00 AM, so an early journey needs another option such as a taxi or a bus.
Dubai Tram Timings
Dubai Tram stations open at 6:00 AM from Monday to Saturday and at 9:00 AM on Sunday, and they close at 1:00 AM the next day. The tram runs later than the Metro on every day except Friday.
Day
Tram station opening hours
Monday to Saturday
6:00 AM to 1:00 AM (next day)
Sunday
9:00 AM to 1:00 AM (next day)
The RTA timetable page shows the Dubai Tram opening hours separately from the Metro. Source: rta.ae
The tram connects to the Metro at SOBHA REALITY and DMCC, so riders who finish late on the Metro can check the tram hours in the same RTA timetable section.
Dubai Metro Timings During Holidays and Special Occasions
RTA publishes holiday and special occasion timetables separately, and they are reached from the main banner on the RTA homepage. The regular table in this guide may not apply on public holidays, during Ramadan or around large events.
Before travelling on a holiday, open the RTA timetable page and follow the banner link to the special timetable. This avoids arriving at a station that has already closed.
How Do You Pay for the Dubai Metro?
Metro riders pay with a nol card, which can be bought at ticket offices, ticket vending machines, RTA authorised sales agents, or as a virtual card in the nol Pay app.
At Metro station ticket vending machines, the minimum top up is AED 20 per card, effective from 1 March 2025, and each top up must be paid with a single payment method. A new nol card bought for AED 25 starts with AED 19 of balance, so the first top up also needs to meet the AED 20 minimum.
Smaller top ups are possible through the nol Pay app, solar top up machines at selected bus stops, Zoom stores and tram station machines. The rule is explained in the official RTA minimum top up FAQ.
Before you leave home, read the nol card balance check guide so you know whether the card has enough for the journey.
Dubai Metro Timings at Dubai International Airport
The Dubai Metro Red Line connects Dubai International Airport (DXB) at Terminals 1 and 3, so the station opening hours in the table above apply to the airport stations too. Dubai Airports confirms that Metro passes are sold at ticket offices and vending machines in Terminals 1 and 3.
The Dubai Airports page does not list a Metro station for Terminal 2. Passengers flying from Terminal 2 should check the official Dubai Airports transport page before choosing the Metro. Early morning flights on a Sunday also need a plan B, because Metro stations open at 8:00 AM that day.
Which Cabins Are on a Dubai Metro Train?
A Dubai Metro train has three kinds of cabins: Gold Class, a group of cabins for women and children, and general cabins. RTA says Gold Class cabins are private cabins for nol Gold card holders, with wide leather seats and panoramic views.
The women and children cabins are reserved for women and children only. Our Dubai Metro map guide shows the full line layout if you need to plan which interchange suits your trip.
Dubai Metro Baggage Policy
Dubai Metro allows 2 suitcases per passenger: one large suitcase up to 81 cm x 58 cm x 30 cm and one small suitcase up to 55 cm x 38 cm x 20 cm. All luggage must be stowed in the dedicated luggage area found in each cabin.
Suitcase
Maximum size
1 large suitcase
81 cm x 58 cm x 30 cm
1 small suitcase
55 cm x 38 cm x 20 cm
The RTA Metro page states the baggage allowance per passenger. Source: rta.ae
Dubai Metro Rules and Fines
Riding the Dubai Metro without paying the fare or with an invalid card carries an AED 200 fine, according to the RTA rules page. Other behaviour and safety rules carry fines from AED 100 to AED 2,000.
Fine
What it covers
AED 100
Causing a disturbance, sitting in areas designated for other groups, eating or drinking where it is not allowed, bringing animals (guide dogs are allowed), misusing lifts or escalators, boarding by climbing or jumping
AED 200
Travelling without paying the fare, failing to show your card on request, using an expired or invalid card or a card meant for someone else, spitting, littering or smoking
AED 300
Sleeping in passenger shelters or places where sleeping is prohibited
AED 500
Using a counterfeit card, carrying alcoholic drinks
AED 1,000
Carrying hazardous items such as weapons, sharp tools or flammable materials
AED 2,000
Damaging or vandalising equipment or seats, misusing emergency exits and safety devices
The RTA rules page groups the fines into Fare, Compliance, Behavioral, Health, Safety and Policies. Source: rta.ae
RTA also lists a fine of AED 100 per day, up to AED 1,000, for leaving a vehicle in areas reserved for Metro users beyond the permitted period. Drivers who park near a station should also read the Dubai parking fines guide.
Dubai Metro Facilities and Accessibility
Dubai Metro offers mobile coverage and Wi Fi across the network, more than 3,000 CCTV cameras, a dedicated Metro Police force and an emergency call box in every train and station, according to RTA.
Wheelchair spaces on all trains and lift access to every station level.
Tactile guidance paths for passengers who have difficulty seeing.
Audible beeps and flashing lights when the doors open and close.
Information screens in trains and stations.
Tips for a Smooth Metro Journey
Use the RTA Journey Planner linked on the official timetable page to compare routes and times.
Check your nol balance before you reach the gate, because you need enough balance to cover the fare.
Plan the return trip too, especially on Sunday mornings and late on weekdays.
These points were checked on the official RTA pages on 31 October 2026.
The RTA timetable page lists the Metro and Tram opening hours shown in the tables above.
The AED 20 minimum top up at Metro station machines has applied since 1 March 2025 and does not currently apply to tram machines.
Holiday and special occasion timetables are published through the RTA homepage banner.
RTA lists Metro fines from AED 100 to AED 2,000, with AED 200 for travelling without paying the fare.
Conclusion
Dubai Metro timings follow a simple pattern: 5:00 AM to midnight on Monday to Thursday and Saturday, 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM on Friday, and 8:00 AM to midnight on Sunday. Check the detailed station PDF for the last train, and always confirm holiday timetables with RTA first. More road and transport guides are in the Fines and Violations section.
Dubai Metro Timings FAQ
What time does the Dubai Metro open?
The Dubai Metro opens at 5:00 AM Monday to Saturday and at 8:00 AM on Sunday. These are the station opening hours published by RTA.
What time does the Dubai Metro close?
Dubai Metro stations close at midnight Monday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and at 1:00 AM on Friday. The last train leaves before the station closes, so arrive early.
What are the Dubai Metro timings on Friday?
On Friday the Dubai Metro runs from 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM the next day. This is one hour later than the closing time on other days.
Is the Dubai Metro open on Sunday morning?
The Dubai Metro opens later on Sunday, at 8:00 AM instead of 5:00 AM. Travellers who need to leave earlier should plan another way to travel.
What are the Dubai Tram timings?
The Dubai Tram runs from 6:00 AM to 1:00 AM the next day from Monday to Saturday, and from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM on Sunday.
Do Dubai Metro timings change on public holidays?
Dubai Metro timings can change on public holidays and special occasions. RTA publishes those timetables through the banner on its homepage, so check it before travelling.
What is the minimum nol top up at Dubai Metro stations?
The minimum top up at Dubai Metro station ticket vending machines is AED 20 per card, with a single payment method for each top up. Smaller amounts can be added through the nol Pay app.
Can I carry a suitcase on the Dubai Metro?
Yes. Each passenger can carry one large suitcase up to 81 cm x 58 cm x 30 cm and one small suitcase up to 55 cm x 38 cm x 20 cm, stowed in the luggage area of the cabin.
What is the fine for travelling on the Dubai Metro without paying?
The fine is AED 200 for using the Metro without paying the applicable fare, or for using an expired, invalid or someone else’s card.
Which Dubai Metro stations serve Dubai International Airport?
The Red Line serves Dubai International Airport at Terminals 1 and 3, according to Dubai Airports.
Anees is a UAE-based content creator, writer, and SEO professional with over 12 years of experience. Since 2014, he has published research-backed guides on UAE visas, labour laws, jobs, traffic fines, and government services, all verified against official sources. He is certified in SEO by HubSpot Academy and Digital Marketing by Google Digital Garage.
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Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance only, based on publicly available UAE laws and regulations. It does not constitute legal advice. Always verify with official UAE government sources or a qualified legal professional.
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